I recently lost the computer on which I was running my AutoCAD software (the motherboard died) and I was suddenly dead in the water with no CD for reinstallation on another computer. In desperation, I went to ebay to see if an old version of AutoCAD was up for sale for sale. As usual, there were a lot of scams, but someone was selling a full version of AutoCAD 2000 that I eventually purchased for $175. The only catch was that it doesn’t work on a Windows 2007 operating system – it wants to play with Windows XP. My guardian angel guided me to a independent computer repair service where they installed the software on a used IBM with XP Professional. The cost for the installation, AND the computer, was $100. So for $275 I now have a dedicated 3D AutoCAD workstation that will never, ever, ever, be connected to the Internet.

Although this might seem like an ancient setup, AutoCAD 2000 is what served me well during the years when I was illustrating for Popular Woodworking. The old girl still screams! The moral of the story is that newer ain’t necessarily better.

AutoCAD 2000 is still my favorite, probably because that’s what I learned on back in 2000 when still in college. I try to keep multiple backups of any projects I’m working on as well as any software that isn’t free or close to it. I keep a least one copy of everything in my firebox for a worst case scenario disaster. The big problem is remembering to back everything up multiple times for storage in different places.

have you tried using a program called Inventor? it’s made by Autodesk as well, but if you are doing 3D modeling it is much more user friendly (after the initial shock of switching over), especially for larger scale projects.

of course, that’s just my humble opinion. either way sounds like you had a nice save

When my PC lost its mind I didn’t see any off the shelf models that had what I wanted so I went to Central Computer in San Jose California and they built one for me to my specs.

At that time they had a SPECIAL for people that wanted to downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7 and they said they had a hard time keeping up with requests for this special … I guess people just dont/didn’t like Windows 8!

I got a copy of a program called Cadopia for $350.It was written by the sub contractor who designed the database Autocad stores the drawing file in.It has a compatibility mode where the menus and command structure are just like Autocad. Even down to the alias file which can be modified just like Autocad could. Just doesn’t do 3D, which is fine for me cause I hate Autocad 3D anyway.

Replacing the burned-out motherboard wasn’t an option because the software was tied to that particular motherboard—or so I was told by someone I trust. “Downgrading” to AutoCAD 2000 wasn’t a matter of being cheap. If I purchased AutoCAD 2014 today, for $4,500, I’d still be using only the small portion of the program that I’ve been using for the last fifteen years. AutoCAD has become so overblown that it now comes with Facebook and Twitter connectivity. LIKE I REALLY NEED THAT!!!And Monte’s right. I’m too freakin’ old to start learning a new language.

”Replacing the burned-out motherboard wasn’t an option because the software was tied to that particular motherboard”That makes more sense then… Only AutoCAD experience I’ve had was when I was in High school for my drafting and design and architecture classes. That was only in 2004/2005, and it felt like there was a lot to the program, can only imagine what there is now lol

John, you should try Creo Elements Direct Express from PTC. I have been using the free version since 2002 when I found out a free version was available.

I was trained on the full version when I worked for HP as at that time it called Solid Designer and was deveoped by a wholly owned subdidiary of HP. That division was spun off as Co|Create, the program was renamed One Space, and Co|Create was purchased by Parametric Technologies in 2007. PTC renamed it Creo has kept the free version available and have updated it to version 4 which runs on PC using Window 7, XP, or Vista in either 32 or 64 bit.

The download page shows capabilities, installation/system requirements, and a comparison of the free version versus the full version. Although it is limited to 60 individual parts per assembly and, although it cannot do rendering, it does support personalized color pallets for parts/assemblies I have not found these limits to be any issue in my woodworking or other design requirements.

I had the same time of problem once before. I now have every program on at least two computers. This has resulted in great relief when one goes down that is needed in my operation. I swap out computers and keep on running production. then I have the time to get the other fixed without sweating.

John,
I would bet you could have found the same motherboard for that machine and been back in business cheaper than what you ended up spending. Or what I would have done is get another motherboard into the machine up and running and then if Autocad didn’t load I would have called Autocad and explained my situation and I am sure they would have helped you get your version working again on the new machine. You spent a ton of dough on that software license and they should support it no matter what. I am an IT Support Engineer and deal with this stuff daily for my clients and 99% of the time the company always helps get things working again it is the nature of the computer age they don’t last forever.